Coupling



SePt- 18, 1951* A. T. scHElwER 2,568,516

ooUPLING Filed May 19. 1948 l 76 2 /Z 432:49 j

INV EN TOR. A LEER-r- TScHE/n/ze,

Patented Sept. 18,- 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUPLING u Albert T. Scheiwer, Erie, Pa.

Application May 19, 1948, Serial No. 27,951

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to couplings and more particularly to quickly attachable snap action couplings wherein check valves are disposed.

Check valves heretofore devised for use in the male or female coupling members of a coupling have not been adaptable for use in vacuum lines because there is no pressure to close the check valves against atmospheric pressure. Also, much of the vacuum has been lost in the disconnection of these prior couplings and the ends thereof have not been sealed against dirt, dust and the like. These prior couplings have also required a sleeve on the female member to be moved with one hand upon the insertion of the male coupling member when a connection was to be made. It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in present day coupling members and check valves therefor and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide a coupling with check valves in the male member thereof particularly adapted for use in vacuum lines, which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, and efficient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for sealing the male member of a coupling upon disconnection thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling which minimizes the loss of fluid in the line upon connection and disconnection thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide coupling for holding the camming members outwardly during disengagement thereof so that the male member may be connected to the female member by mere insertion.

Another object of my invention is to provide check valves in the male member of a coupling which is not dependent upon the pressure in a line for closing or sealing the coupling upon disengagement thereof.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevational view with one side thereof broken away on the center line of my novel coupling in a connected position;

Fig. 2 is an exploded side elevational view with one s'ide thereof broken away on the center line of my novel coupling in a disengaged position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view in locked position, with one 'side thereof broken away on the center line of a modified form of my coupling;

Referring now tothe drawings, I show `in Figs.V

4novel means in a female coupling member of a 1 and 2 a female member I comprising a cylindrical shell 2 having stepped portions 3 and 4, ball retaining apertures 5 for retaining camming members or balls 6, a peripheral groove 'l for receiving a stop spring clip 8, an internal annular washer groove 9 for receiving a U-shaped washer I0, and an internally threaded portion II for threadably engaging the threaded end I2 of a connecting member I3. The cylindrical shell 2 and the connecting member I3 each have wrench engaging portions I4 and [-5 respectively. A locking sleeve Iii having a camming portion I'I is telescopically disposed on the member 2 and the spring I8 urges the camming portion Il of the sleeve I6 into engagement with the stop clip 8. A cylindrical member i's disposed internally and telescopically in the shell 2 and it has an outwardly extending enlarged portion 2I which is adapted to engage the shoulder 22 formed in the shell 2. A spring 23 urges the portion 2I into engagement with the shoulder 22 in the shell 2. The enlarged portion 2| of the member 20 has an annular internal groove 24 for receiving a sealing washer 25. The connecting member I3 has an internally threaded portion 26 adapted to be engaged with any suitable hose connection.

The male member 30 comprises a cylindrical member 3l having an annular groove 32, a serrated portion 33 for engagement to a hose, and a connecting portion 34 with an enlarged portion 35 forming a shoulder 36. The connecting portion 34 has laterally extending apertures 3'I for the now of uid and an annular peripheral groove 38 for receiving a stop washer 39. A telescopng sleeve 40 is disposed on the connecting portion 34 of the male member 30 and it has an internal annular washer groove 4I for receiving a U-shaped washer 42 for sealingly engaging the apertures 31 in the connecting portion 34 of the male member 30. A spring 43 urges the sleeve 4I! against the stop washer 39 as shown in Fig. 2. The sleeve 40 has an arcuate shaped annular grooved portion 44 for engagement with the washer 25 in the female member I. The projecting portion 45 on the outer end of the sleeve member 2li in the female member I is spaced from the end of the shell 2.

In operation, my coupling shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is connected together as shownin Fig. lby merely inserting the sleeve 4I] on connecting portion 34 of the male member 30 into the female member I. Upon insertion of the connecting portion 34 of the male member 30 into the female member I, the sleeve member 2D is forced rearwardly out of engagement with the balls 6 thereby permitting them to move into the groove 32 of the male member 30. The camming portion Il of the locking sleeve I6 on the female member I locks the ball members 6 into engagement with the groove 32 on the male member 30. The

male member Eil by spring 75.

has lradially extending ribs i6 and an axially extending pointed portion il for passing through sleeve 4! on the male member do engages washer 25 wherein it is forced out of sealing engagement vwith the Washer 39 and the apertures 31 whereby fluid may flow between the male and female coupling members l and Sii respectively. Upon disconnection of the couplings, the locking sleeve i is pulled rearwardly against the force of the spring IS so that the camming portion il' thereof is out of engagement with the balls 5 thus permitting the withdrawal of the male member 3d from the female member l. The sleeve '4D on the male Vmember 3U is then automatically pushed forvv-ardly by the spring i3 to close the laterally extending apertures Si and sealingly engage the washer ring'l as shown in Fig. 2. The spring-urged sleeve 29 in the female memi will move outwardly with the male member Se whereby the balls S will be held outwardly the path of the camming portion il' of the locking sleeve i6 so that the connecting portion 3d of the male member Si) may be inserted into the female member i Without any manual manipulation of the lockingsleve ifi.

In Figs. 3 Vand e, I show a modined form of the coupling shown in Figs. 41 and 2. The female member 55 is identi-cal with the female member shown in Figs. l and 2 eoept that an apertured disc member 5l is disposed adjacent shoulder 52 formed in the member le. The disc member 5| has an axially, outwardly extending abutting portion 53. The male member 6] comprises a cylindrical member 6i having a peripheral groove 62, a connecting portion 53 threadmember and the sleeve S as shown in Fig. 4.

.The member l@ has a split'outwardiy projecting flattened portion so that fluid may pass ,f

through from the base end of the member but not from the apex end thereof.V A flat, disc shaped member is urged into engagement with the inwardly directed, flanged portion E? of the the split portion-"i3 of the flexible member ie to open the split portion of the flexible member lil to the passage of fluid in either direction.

In the operation of my coupling shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the connecting portion 63 of the male member SS is disposed in the female member 59 wherein the` sleevel 2 8 is forced out of engagement with the balls G and they engage the groove 62 in the male member 4Ei!) and are locked therein by the camming portion i'l of the locking sleeve la rl'he end of the connecting portion t3V of the male member Sii sealingly engages the washer 25Y in the female member 59. portion 53 on the disc 5! engages the member M'and forces it against the force of the spring T5 whereby the pointed member il opens the split portion 'i3 of the flexible member-l to permit the flow of fluid through the male and female members 60 and El) respectively. Upon disconnection, the sleeve l is forced against the spring i8 to a position where the camming portion Vl thereof clears the balls e wherein the reale member "to is pulled away from the female The member 'ifi The projecting member 59. As the male member 6B moves outwardly, the spring-urged sleeve 26 Will follow it so that the ball members 6 will be held outwardly in the path of the camming portion I1 of the sleeve i6. The spring 15 will also force the member 'iai into engagement with the inwardly directed flange 6'! on the connecting portion 66 of the male member G, thereby moving the pointed member l? fromthe split portion i3 of the member 1S to seal the male member 60.

lt will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel coupling with check valves which are positive in operation no matter what the pressure is in the line and one which ,is particularly adaptable fora vacuum line.

Various changes may be made in the specic embodiment of my invention Withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A coupling comprising a female member,

camming members carried by said ,female men -V ber, a spring-urged camming sleeve for engaging said camming members, 'a sleeve telescopically disposed internally of said female member adapted to hold said camming members outwardly in the path of said` camming sleeve when said female member is disengaged, a washer in said sleeve, a, male member having an apertured connecting portion adapted to sealingly engage the washer in said female member and for movon said male member out of sealing engagement with the aperture therein whereby fluid flows from said male member to said female member and vice versa.

2. A coupling comprising a. female member, camming members carried by said female member, an external spring-urged cam-ming sleeve for engaging said camming members, an `internal, telescopically disposed sleeve for engaging said camming members when said female member is disengaged to hold the camming members in the pathof said camming sleeve, a washer disposed internally of said inner sleeve, a male member having an aperturedconnecting portion with a peripheralgroove, adapted to sealingly engage the washer in said sleeve and move said sleeve longitudinally out of 'engagement with said camming members whereby said camming members lockingly engage the peripheral'groove on said male member upon connection of said male-and female members, and a spring urged telescopic sleeve movable onfthe connecting portion of 'said male member for sealinglyengaging the Vapertu-re in said connectingY portion -of said male member upon disconnection thereof, said washer 'female member is moved out of engagement with said camming members whereby fluid flows from said male member to said female member and vice versa.

3. A coupling comprising a female member, an annular sealing washer therein, a male member having laterally extending apertures, a springurged outer sleeve on said male member adapted to sealingly engage the laterally extending apertures therein upon disengagement, said sleeve being moved longitudinally by the annular washer in said female member upon connection of said male and female members, and means for locking said male and female members together.

4, A coupling comprising a female member, an inner spring urged longitudinally movable sleeve in said female member, an annular washer disposed in said inner sleeve, camming members carried by said female member, an outer springurged camming sleeve for lockingly engaging said camming members, said inner sleeve holding said camming members outwardly in the path of said outer camming ksleeve upon disengagement of said female member, a male member having a peripheral groove for engagement by the camming members of said female member upon connection of said male and female members together, and a connecting portion with a laterally extending portion, a telescoping sleeve on the connecting portion of said male member for sealingly engaging the laterally extending apertures therein upon disengagement thereof, said sleeve being movable longitudinally by the annular washer in said female member upon engagement of said male and female members to unseal the laterally extending apertures in said male member and said male member moving said inner sleeve in said female member longitudinally out of engagement with said camming members whereby they may engage the peripheral groove of said male member upon connection of said male and female members.

5. A coupling comprising `a female member, a stop member in said female member, a male member, a spring-urged member for sealingly engaging the end of said male member when disengaged, a pointed member movable with said spring-urged member, a split yieldable member normally closed to the passage of fluid in one direction in said male member adapted to be opened by said pointed member, said stop member in said female member moving said springurged member to an open position and said pointed member into the split portion of said yieldable member when said male and female members are connected together and means for connecting said male and female members together.

6. A coupling as set forth in claim 5 wherein a sleeve is provided in said female member whereby with laterally extending apertures, a movable sleeve on the connecting portion of said male member adapted to sealingly engage the apertures in the connecting portion of said male member upon disengagement, means in the sleeve in said female member for moving said sleeve on said male member longitudinally out of sealing engagement with the apertures in said male member when said male and female members are connected together, andacamming sleeve on said female member to urge said camming members into engagement with the peripheral groove on said male member to lock said male and female members together, said sleeve in said female member being adapted to engage the inner side of said camming members to hold them outwardly in the path of said camming sleeve upon disengagement of said male and female members whereby said male and female members may be connected together by mere insertion of said connecting portion of said male member into said female member.

8. A coupling comprising a male member having a connecting portion with an inwardly directed end flange and laterally extending apertures, a split flexible member in said male member having a normally closed aperture for closing said male member to the flow of fluid in one direction, a movable member in said male member for opening said aperture in said yieldable member to the flow of fluid, a female member, means in said female member for engaging the movable member in said male member upon connection of said male and female members to open said yieldable member to the flow of fluid, and means for connecting said male and female members together.

9. A coupling comprising a female member, an annular washer in said female member, a male member having a connecting portion, a conical shaped, yieldable member having an outwardly extending split portion disposed in said male member, said split, portion being normally closed to the now of iluid in one direction, a movable pointed member in said female member adapted to open the split portion of said yieldable member to the flow of fluid, and means in said female member for moving said pointed member into engagement with the split portion of said yieldable member upon connection of said male and female members together, and means for connecting said male and female members together.

ALBERT T. SCHEIWER.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,364,147 Spahr Jan. 4, 1921l 2,111,956 Baldwin Mar. 22, 1938 2,135,221 Scheiwer Nov. 1, 1938 2,279,146 Schneller Apr. 7, 1942 2,297,548 Fox et al Sept. 29, 1942 2,397,342 Farrell Mar. 26, 1948 `2,412,685 Hoffman et al. Dec. 17, 1946 2,428,637 Scheiwer Oct. 7, 1947 

